Happiest Girl!

I was so tired yesterday after a late night. Took me a while to fall asleep afterwards, too. My mind was racing and I still felt energized from all the jumping around/dancing/screaming/singing (if you can call what I did singing). That’s why I didn’t make a post right away.

Yep. Excuses. Again.

We went to the Def Leppard/Styx/REO Speedwagon concert at the Idaho Center. I ordered the tickets a while ago. Good seats, looked like they were pretty close to the stage when I ordered them. A little expensive, but dude- it’s Def Leppard!

We were planning to leave the house early, but as always, it didn’t work out this way. We got there pretty fast, though. Found our seats. The runway was T shaped - we got to sit two seats from the end of the T. Awesome view of the stage!

The first opening act was Styx. Great show! Great music, good stage presence (especially the Keyboardist… he had the energy of a 3 year old and a rotating keyboard. He was, playing backwards, climbing on top of the keyboard, jumping around taking pictures. They all seemed like they were having a great time – which made it even more fun to watch.

Next was REO Speedwagon. They did a good job, though I couldn’t really get into it. All seemed like they were having fun. Kind of easy when you get to do what you love for a living, I guess…

Def Leppard:

Hell, yeah!! They came out and the place just exploded. I’ve been waiting for this show for more than a couple of months now. Anyone who asked me got to hear all about it. Joe and Phil were sick and the last six shows were canceled. I’m so glad they made it . It was totally worth the wait. They rocked the place! The video screen behind them had some really nice visuals running. They were also showing live shots of the stage, which must have been really nice for the poor suckers all the way at the back (sorry, guys!).

Phil Collen is an amazing player. Looked really good. NICE six pack! Somebody get me a mop and a bucket… the guy is in great shape. When the show ended the guys came out to the end of the T. I gave Phil a thumb up – he smiled at me and said “Thank you”. What a nice guy!

Vivian Campbell has been hitting the gym as well. He is in great shape and seems like such a nice guy. He was smiling the whole time and you could tell he is really having fun. He is such a talented player.

Rick Savage looked great and was having a great time. He’s very energetic and can play the hell out of that bass.

Poor Joe Elliott, after being so sick… having to run around like this. But he sounded great. I love his voice. He is a good performer and really does give everything he’s got.

Rick Allen was stuck behind the drum kit the whole time and came out to say hello and thank the crowd when the show was over. All I could see during the concert was the top of his head on the video screen and his foot moving real fast. He is an amazing guy.

I can’t even describe how nice it was to be that close to the stage. Next time (better be a next time, guys!) I’m jumping on the tickets as soon as they come out.

The only thing that got to me a little was the girl in front of me. She was drunk, loud and annoying.

Jumping on the chair and totally blocking my view. If I didn’t want to stay for Def Leppard so bad,

It would have been worth it to take off my boot and beat her with it.

When Def Leppard came out, though, she moved to the side of the stage and I got my view back.

It was a super great show and I had so much fun. I think everybody did. (Go bang your head against the wall, Deeds). I would have loved to hear stuff from X (I think it’s a great album!). Especially – Long, Long Way to Go. (I know, Duane. I know). But I am so thankful for getting the chance to be there and see them live.

After the show we went and got three concert shirts. Hella spensive, but hey, it was my (early) birthday present.

Thank you - Def, REO and Styx!

Wow. Idaho makes news again with another wiener story. This one isn’t tapping, though.

According to channel 7 - “Last July someone took weed killer to the grass and “drew” a phallic symbol several stories high near the base of the hill by Bogus Basin Road and Cartwright Road… A spokesperson for the Simplot Corporation says landscapers attempted to cover over the vandalism with a paint that matched the color of the grass, but weather has made it visible again”. Neat idea. Wonder why it didn’t work.

The story goes on about how the neighbors are upset. The marking is near a school and an LDS church.

Since this might be considered not kiddie safe/work safe/whatever else - here’s a link to the image.

Pic

My grandma passed away more than a week ago. She was sick and was going downhill fast. About 9 years ago she had a bad accident. She lost one of her legs and her health was never the same ever since. She was a real fighter and the first few years tried to recover and get on with her life, but in the last year her health got worse and her systems started shutting down. The doctors pretty much prepared the family to the fact that things are not going to get any better - but you’re never really ready for something like this…
I was very lucky to go home for a visit back in September and see her. She was in and out of the hospital back then, but she was still in a good mood, awake… The last time I saw her we even joked around a little.

I have a lot of fun memories. As children, we loved going to grandma’s because we knew she had chocolate buttons with sprinkles waiting for us… She used to make a homemade, special lemonade that we all loved. She was an excellent cook and baker. She taught me a lot. I remember sitting next to her in the kitchen and watching her as a little girl. She used to have one specialty that no one could make as good as her - a middle Eastern dish called Kubeh. I remember her sitting in our kitchen making trays of it. My mom would freeze it all and cook small portions for us later on. I still can’t make this dish.

My grandma was born and grew up in Syria and moved to Israel as a young woman. Her and my grandpa, who passed away a long time ago, raised 7 children in a small house. She used to sew, knit, crochet… and everything she made was beautiful. I remember the sweaters and scarfs she used to knit for us, the grandchildren, and a beautiful, large piece of embroidery she made and had on the wall in her living room.

She was very proud of all of us, the grandchildren and the great grandchildren later on. Her living room was full of pictures and art work the little ones made for her.

My memories and thoughts are still a mess, so it was tough for me to come up with anything. I’m sure there’s so much more that I will think about later on. Maybe at some point I’ll feel up to it and write…

The 7th season of American Idol started last week with my favorite part - the auditions.
Of course - there are the same old sad sacks (doing it for my mom/my child/my three legged cat) that I don’t really care for. But there are also people that dress funny (though guys that dress like chicks are getting kinda old), weirdos (”I keep my fingernail clippings in a Ziplock”), people that are SO shocked they didn’t get through because their mommy told them they could sing (and mommy is ALWAYS right ), or people that had nothing to do that morning, so they just came in.

This guy, though… I hope that somewhere, somehow, he makes it. Hey, William Hung did…

Comment from a user on youtube: “yo this is my idol right here ima get that song for my ipod and learn it then sing it to random strangers at the mall. haha”. - I got it stuck in my head too.

Oh, and Paula - YOU GO, GIRL!

Every year we buy something small for each one of the dogs, wrap it and let them try and open the package. Tonight I tried to convince them to tear their presents open by hiding a treat inside. Missy sat there and sniffed it (had to open her present for her) Rocky opened it a little, ate the treat - and brought a half wrapped rubber ball (chewed up and slobbery wrapper) for me to throw. What else is new. He’s been bugging us ever since. He was just outside with it and played soccer in the snow for a while (he loves playing by himself) and came in and set a cold, frozen, covered with snow rubber ball right next to my butt - so i can’t ignore it and play with him. Cold.

Missy got a new squeaky toy.

Going to sleep now. We’re going to see the family tomorrow… gonna be a long day.

I started a post about something completely different, but then realized I needed to get something off my chest - and this is probably the best way to do it. If I’m being obsessive, then oh well. I can get it out and leave it alone. Why am I so upset over someone who’s never been there for me (unless they needed something) and only knows how to take… no clue.

It sucks when you try to do something nice for someone and hit a brick wall. It hurt my feelings, pretty bad - and I hope I’ll remember it and this will be my last try. Talked to E. about it - I thought I was being over-sensitive - and she said - my feelings would be hurt too. Just wish them a Merry fuckin’ Christmas and walk on. Then I remembered something my sister always says - Give me the power to accept the things I can’t change.

So, to you, Merry fucking whatever. With the bird. Both hands. I think that’s what my hubby (love you more than anything, babe!) was trying to tell me from the very beginning.

So, you. Wanna talk, you know where to find me. I’m not so sure I want to talk to you.

You probably can’t get your head out of your ass long enough to hold a conversation anyway.

PS. This actually works. I feel better.

It’s been a while. I have a pretty long list of excuses, but I just realized nobody would actually care anyway. I’ve been lazy. And I still don’t have much to say. I was just thinking about how bad I nagged hubby to set this up for me. He even renewed the domain name. So I’m going to try and write something anyway.

My visit home in September was great. I got to see everybody and spend some time with my sisters and parents. I also got to see my grandma -probably for the last time. It feels like I got to say goodbye. She is getting older and doesn’t feel as good as she used to. While I was there, she was hospitalized twice.
I brought back a lot of food, candy, some spices and a few movies. I got and bought cookbooks. I wish I could bring back more stuff. I really wanted to. But my suitcases were over the weight limit and I actually had to leave some stuff behind, which I hope my mom is mailing to me. Got some pictures from my trip - Here.

We had a lot of fun the other night. We drove to the store, bought some snacks, sat in a dark part of the parking lot and smoked cigars. We talked and listened to the radio. I had a wonderful time. One of the benefits of being married to my best friend.
We actually had a pretty good day today. We did something that makes me think we are heading in the right direction. We Team: 1 ; Q: Zero. (Can we go for less than zero? Ha. For once in my life I want to see Karma at work. Come on).

Not obsessing.

I made this post on my myspace page and it made me feel like blogging again. Yay me.

-

I was chatting with my sister today and somehow we got to talk about a poem we both had to learn in high school… I think this book - a collection of poems - has been used for the last 20+ years (and is still being used, I’m sure), so every student in every school had to learn it (by heart, too…. so you can stand in front of the class and give ‘em a good show….).

I found the original (and the translated version) online -

And here’s the translation -

I could quote this poem drunk, sick, standing on my head, after a sleepless night - anything…

It’s been almost 20 years for me…

Ugh.

It’s been a while since I posted anything. I’ve been tired (and lazy…). So much has happened since. We lost our little girl Cyn. We took her to be cremated. We will get a nice urn and we are planning to build a little memorial around it. I still can’t believe she is gone. It feels so empty and weird without her.

We love you, Cynd.

Blah again… I’ve been so out of it lately. Might be the heat. Or maybe I’m getting old Who knows…
Been a while since I posted anything. Busy. And lazy. Mostly lazy… Haven’t had much to write about… (still don’t…)

I’m getting pretty excited about my trip. I still have to take care of some documents, which I should do this week. My other passport has expired, and since it was too late to get a new one when I got my tickets, I have to apply for some temporary papers. I need to go and get my picture taken, get some money orders to pay the embassy… what a pain in the ass.

Met a new friend. A really nice Israeli girl who lives here with her husband and two girls. I hope we can get together soon. Her schedule is pretty hectic right now (new job…) and it’s tough to plan anything.

She recommended a good Middle Eastern restaurant to us that became one of our favorites. It’s a nice little place, the food is excellent and the prices are pretty good too. Now I’m all set
I’m kinda rusty right now, so I think I’m going to stop. I think I’ll go see how the furry kids are doing